Dear Parents and Guardians,
Today, we officially announced the appointment of Alison Derbyshire as the new Head of College at Dulwich College Seoul, effective from 1 August 2024. Alison’s selection follows an extensive and rigorous international search, culminating in a comprehensive final evaluation here at DCSL. I would like to extend my sincere gratitude to all colleagues, students, and parents who participated in this process and provided invaluable insights. Her appointment is a testament to her remarkable track record in educational leadership, most recently at Dulwich College Shanghai Pudong. Alison brings with her a wealth of experience and a deep commitment to educational excellence, inclusivity, and community engagement. I am confident that under her leadership, our school will continue to thrive and build on its outstanding achievements. Please join me in warmly congratulating Alison on her new role and in anticipating her arrival in Seoul.
As we wrap up No-Carbon November, we celebrate a trifecta of sustainability milestones. Firstly, the unveiling of the Eco Schools Plaque symbolises our students’ dedication to environmental stewardship, earning recognition from the Foundation for Environmental Education. Secondly, the launch of our pioneering electric bus (see the Whole School section), potentially a first in the country for a school, marks a significant stride towards sustainable transportation and embodies our commitment to a greener future. Lastly, the series of Daily Actions challenges has seen our students actively engage in reducing their carbon footprint through activities like zero food waste days, eco-friendly travel, and using reusable bottles. Together, these initiatives highlight that sustainability at Dulwich College Seoul is not just a goal, but a fundamental part of our identity, nurturing eco-conscious individuals who are ready to lead change.
The College is buzzing with activity at this moment – we have just wrapped up our Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony in the B1 Atrium, and the Winter Concert is now getting underway. At the same time, preparations for tomorrow’s Winter Bazaar are in full swing, thanks to the tireless efforts of the Friends of Dulwich (FoD), who have been working diligently to ensure a smooth and enjoyable event for everyone. There will be more vendors than last year and plenty of food and drinks, so hope you will join us. I would also like to extend my heartfelt thanks to Mark Knights and the entire music department for their incredible efforts in arranging the live music performances for these three back-to-back events. Their coordination and dedication in bringing together over a hundred students for these performances is truly remarkable.
On a different note, we’ve been informed that members of our community have received tickets for making illegal left turns into and out of the school car park. This rule, dictated by the solid line on the road, may not have been clear to everyone. Our traffic support team has been instructed to facilitate right-turn-only exits and entries. Unfortunately, this enforcement has led to moments where the safety of our staff has been jeopardized. Please adhere to this traffic policy to ensure the safety and well-being of our entire school community.
Looking forward, we are currently developing a strategic plan to guide us for the next five years. Next week, we are fortunate to have Ewan McIntosh, a consultant who has previously worked with EiM, join us on campus to facilitate this important work. Over three days, Mr McIntosh will meet with a cross-section of our community, from school leaders and operational managers to parents and Board of Trustee members. In these sessions, we’ll focus on foundational strategy elements, from educational vision to facilities and community engagement, ensuring our school’s continued alignment with student needs and educational leadership. I would like to thank everyone who will be participating in this process for their contributions in shaping our future.
I look forward to seeing many of you at our Winter Bazaar tomorrow. It will be wonderful to join you in savouring a hot cup of mulled wine, sampling some delicious food, and doing some festive shopping while enjoying live musical performances from our students. It promises to be a lovely day for our community, and I can’t wait to share in these festivities with you all.
With my best wishes,
Mr Guðmundur Hegner Jónsson